Side plate tuning to hit where you look

[the rifleman]

i shoot left handed because of eye dominance.  My arrows are well tuned to my bow.  I recently changed fro split to 3 under and then found a cleaner release w 2 under.  The problem was my groups were predominately to the right of where I was looking by several inches.  I could get on target if I focused on looking down the arrow and rotating my head far to the left, but after much time this was still not reliable for me.  I could also grip the bow and " force" the shot to the left, but did not feel this was a good habit--- I like how Arne explained letting the string pull the bow on target and I shoot best with a very loose bow hand.
A friend that took the Rick Welch class had told me how Mr. Welch tunes the bow to hit where you look.  My side plate was a very thin piece of beaver tail so today I decided to put a piece of soft Velcro over it--- I did not want to stiffen the arrow, but I thought that the effect this would give me would be to have the arrow point further to the right of the riser which would then make me move the point of the arrow further to the left as I aimed.  It worked!  Not only that but the bow appears to be more forgiving with another type of arrow I had previously tried to tune without the best results.
Now I come to anchor and concentrate on maintaining good form and the arrow is going where I look.
Anyone else have experience with making this adjustment using the side plate?

[McDave]

I've also had his classes and like his style of shooting.

Changing strike pads works as you said for moving the POI sideways.  Changing the rest does the same thing up/down.  

Rick also recommends raising the nock point to lower the POI.  This changes the tuning somewhat, but as long as you don't move the nock point below level bare shaft flight, it doesn't seem to affect the accuracy.  I wouldn't make that statement solely based on my own experience, but since Rick does it and he's about the most accurate shot I know, I have to believe it's okay.

Your use of soft Velcro is his middle adjustment.  If you want to move the POI further in the same direction, use a rug rest, such as a Martin Rug Rest.

You may be correct in the reason you gave for the POI movement you experienced, but the reason Rick gives is that an arrow recoils away from the strike plate.  A softer strike plate reduces the amount of recoil, and thereby moves the POI in the direction of the strike plate.

Of course, as you make changes in your form, your original strike plate adjustment may not work for you anymore.  Fortunately, changing strike plates isn't that hard to do.

[the rifleman]

Thanks Dave.  Good info about the reduction in recoil with the softer plate--- this would explain why the bow seems more forgiving.  I had previously thought a thicker side plate would have caused me to impact further right ( making arrow act stiffer).  Glad it worked out the other way ( I think due to the softer material) and brought my arrows to the left.

Thanks again for the info!  Always appreciative of the wealth of knowledge and willingness to share that is here on TG!

[OBXarcher]

Gonna give it a try. Thanks for the info.

[Sarge5706]

I'm having the same problem but shoot right handed and arrows are impacting to the left.  According to this thread I should maybe make my plate a little thicker and it will move my POI to the right am I reading this correct.
Right now I am shooting a 35# American Archery Mark II to just work on form before going back to my heavier (45#) bow.
Thanks

[McDave]

Simply making the plate thicker will move the POI further to the left.  Making the plate out of softer material should move the POI to the right.  The softer material may be thicker than your old strike plate, so the arrow sitting on the rest may appear to be positioned slightly further to the left; however, when it is shot it will compress the soft material and leave the arrow shelf further to the right than it would with the old stiffer strike plate.

[the rifleman]

What McDave said is what I experienced.  Before I put the Velcro on I just grabbed a small piece of cotton cleaning patch out of the muzzleloader box and affixed it over the side plate using a toothpick and rubber band.  This has really helped to shoot where I look.  I also am discovering much more consistency in my bareshaft results ( showing weak right now).  I believe McDave was also correct regarding the arrow recoiling off my former, harder side plate.  Hope it works as well for others-- it sure has solved my frustration.

[the rifleman]

P.s. I forgot to mention that I folded that cleaning patch twice making a cushion out of it.